Home How-To Newsletter

Introduction

Remember the hours you could spend weaving lanyards at summer camp? These braided ribbon napkin rings are just as delightful and simple to make. Practice with one ribbon first, until you become familiar with the pattern, then follow these instructions for a chain using two grosgrain ribbons, each 2 yards long, in complementary colors. Hold them together at the halfway point; the color facing you will become the inside color of the chain.

materials

Ribbon

Scissors

steps

Cross the ribbons right sides over left to make a loop, then slide them back through the loop to make a slipknot.

Pick up the ribbons on the right side, and, folding them together, pass through the loop, making a new slipknot.

As you progress, you'll notice that the loop will always tilt to one side or the other. Pick up the ribbons on that side, fold them, and pass them through the new loop. Continue the process, back and forth, straightening the ribbons as you go.

When you have made a chain that is 7 to 8 inches long, pull the ends of the ribbons all the way through, and cut them off at a length equal to the width of the ribbon. Tuck these tabs under, and tack down with a needle and thread, making sure to pass the needle once through the whole braid to strengthen it.

Now stitch the two ends of the chain together to create a napkin ring. With longer lengths of ribbon, these chains make lovely headbands for little girls, too.